Tarpley Suspended Indefinitely for DUI : Basketball: Maverick forward is disciplined by counselors in his after-care program.

Roy Tarpley of the Dallas Mavericks was suspended indefinitely Thursday by counselors in his after-care program, one day after he was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

In a telephone call from the ASAP Family Treatment Center in Van Nuys, Dr. David Lewis told a news conference that Tarpley would be suspended without pay “until we can sort everything out.”

Tarpley, who has been treated twice for drug and alcohol abuse, was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday on a North Dallas freeway after officers spotted him driving his car too close to another vehicle. He also pulled away from a police officer who tried to arrest him, officer Frank Ruspoli said.

“It is clear that alcohol was involved and that is in non-compliance with his after-care,” Lewis said. “Roy will be suspended until he is fully in compliance with his personal after-care program. He must understand the gravity of this kind of incident and how alcohol contributes to it.”

Tarpley, who did not attend the news conference, has not commented on the Wednesday night incident. He practiced with the Mavericks Thursday morning, then talked with Lewis.

A positive test for alcohol would not necessarily be the “third strike” that would result in a lifetime suspension from the NBA with an opportunity to apply for reinstatement after two years.

But Lewis said if a blood test taken after the arrest turns up cocaine, Tarpley would be suspended for life. Test results may not be available for up to two weeks, Dallas police said.

Owner Donald Carter said Tarpley would not be welcome at the Mavericks’ facilities any time soon.

“We won’t have any relationship with him,” Carter said. “We won’t pick him up. We won’t give him food. We will have nothing to do with him until the time he is sent back to us to play basketball.”

Maverick Coach John MacLeod said, “We want him to be sober and comply and we don’t even want him around for any of our meetings.”

Dallas Police Sgt. J.N. Grissom said Tarpley was clocked driving 70 to 80 m.p.h.

Tarpley leads the NBA in rebounding with an average of 16.8 a game.